Sometimes, lung cancer cells can produce hormones that travel in the bloodstream. When this happens, seemingly unrelated symptoms may appear. Here’s what to look out for.

The charity Cancer Research UK confirmed that “paraneoplastic syndrome” describes the signs when lung cancer cells have been producing hormones.

One example of paraneoplastic syndrome is breast swelling in men – otherwise known as moobs.

Are you a man with excess fat on your chest? Before jumping to conclusions, it’s wise to be aware of the other unusual signs of lung cancer.

The charity continued to state that muscle weakness is another sign, as is numbness in the fingers or toes.

Other hormonally charged symptoms include drowsiness, dizziness and confusion.

One other bizarre symptom for lung cancer is blood clots, but there are much more common symptoms to be aware of.

Cancer Research UK wants people to notice if they’re suffering from a persistent cough.

This is especially true if you’ve had a cough for a long time, and now it sounds different or has started to hurt.

Some people with the condition may experience an ache or pain in the chest or shoulder.

It’s common for somebody to lose their appetite and to lose weight, as well as feeling fatigued.

Knowing what to look out for is helpful, as lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.

There are certain risk factors that increase a person’s risk of developing the disease, such as ageing.

However, the biggest predictor for lung cancer is smoking tobacco – Cancer Research UK reports seven out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking.

This includes breathing in second-hand smoke from others, whether it be indoors or outdoors.

Smoking, even occasionally, increases your risk of lung cancer, but this risk skyrockets the more you smoke, and the longer you smoke.

There are different stages, types and grades of lung cancer – all of which have a specific meaning.

The stage refers to how big the cancerous tumour is and whether it’s spread to other body parts.

Then, the type of lung cancer identifies which type of cell the cancer originated from.

The grade of the deadly disease refers to how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.

All of these identifying markers together enable doctors to tailor treatment plans that would work best for each patient.

Survival rates differ depending on the severity of the cancer, but Cancer Research has gathered statistical data.

The charity reports that around three in 10 people diagnosed with lung cancer in England survive their disease for five years or more.

For every one in 10 people, a lung cancer patient survives their disease for 10 years or more.

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